Lee Marks - Football Coach

Lee Marks

Title:
Assistant Head Coach, Running Backs / Run Game Coordinator
Email:
leemarks@mail.fresnostate.edu
Phone:
559-278-3015

Last updated Jan. 27, 2021

THE MARKS FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Twitter: @CoachLeeMarks
Hometown: Reseda, Calif.
High School: Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.)
Spouse: Kim
Children: Liam, Logan

EDUCATION
Boise State (2007)
Bachelor's in Psychology

Sioux Falls (2011)
Master's in Education

COACHING HISTORY
Fresno State
2020-21: Running Backs/Asst. Head Coach
Run Game Coordinator
Boise State
2019: Running Backs/Director of Special Teams
2015-18: Running Backs
2014: Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Arkansas State
2013: Asst. Director of S&C
South Dakota State
2012: Running Backs
Sioux Falls
2010-11: Offensive Graduate Assistant
Colorado
2007-09: Asst. speed and S&C coach

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Boise State
2001-05: Running Back
Boise Burn (Arena Football)
2006: Running Back

Lee Marks enters his second season with the Fresno State football program in 2021. Marks is the acting running backs coach and additionally holds the titles of assistant head coach and run game coordinator with the Bulldogs.

The running back group steered by Marks in his first season at Fresno State was led by first team all-Mountain West senior Ronnie Rivers. Before suffering an injury in the second-to-last game of the season, Rivers was one of two MW backs averaging over 100 rushing yards per game, and led the conference in all-purpose yards (163.8/game) and scoring (10.8/game).

Marks joined the Fresno State football staff for the 2020 season following six seasons at his alma mater, Boise State. The former Boise State all-league running back spent the past five seasons as its running backs coach and was a member of its strength and conditioning staff in year one of his tenure. He added director of special teams to his duties in 2019.
and was a member of its strength and conditioning staff in year one of his tenure. He added director of special teams to his duties in 2019.

In Marks’ five seasons with the running backs at Boise State, they had a 1,000-yard rusher each season.

Under his watch, true freshman George Holani kept the streak going and was named the 2019 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and a second-team all-league selection, after Marks lost his second running back in three seasons declaring early for the NFL Draft – Alexander Mattison (3rd Rd. – Minnesota, 2019) and Jeremy McNichols (5th Rd. – Tampa Bay, 2017).

When he arrived, the Boise State backfield picked up right where it left off from 2014, as McNichols had a breakout season with 1,337 rushing yards (25th in the FBS) and 20 rushing touchdowns, a figure that was the Mountain West standard and ranked sixth in the country. McNichols also fully emerged as a dual threat, complementing his rushing prowess with 51 catches for 460 yards and six more touchdowns.

McNichols followed up his 2015 campaign with a stellar 2016, ranking second nationally in total touchdowns (27) and ranking sixth nationally in rushing yards (1,709).

In 2017, Marks oversaw the development of Alexander Mattison, who rushed for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns. A season later, Mattison led the Mountain West and ranked eighth nationally with 1,415 rushing yards en route to first-team all-league honors. He also added 17 rushing TDs to lead the MW and rank seventh nationally.

Marks initially returned to his alma mater in 2014, serving as assistant strength and conditioning coach. Before returning to Boise State, Marks spent the 2013 season as the assistant director of strength and conditioning at Arkansas State, where Bryan Harsin served as head coach. There, the Red Wolves earned a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and a victory in the GoDaddy Bowl.

He joined A-State after serving as running backs coach at South Dakota State in 2012. The Jackrabbits ranked as high as No. 21 in the Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision Poll, producing a 9-4 overall record during Marks’ lone season in Brookings. Marks oversaw the efforts of All-America running back Zach Zenner, who rushed for 2,044 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for another 197 yards. He topped 100 yards in nine games and rushed for 200-plus yards three times, including a school-record 295 yards in a win over Eastern Illinois.

Prior to working at South Dakota State, Marks spent two seasons as a graduate assistant that worked with the running backs at the University of Sioux Falls. The high-powered Cougar offense ranked second in the NAIA in total points (577) during the 2010 season and ranked 18th in rushing yards (2,254).

Before joining the Sioux Falls staff, Marks spent three seasons at Colorado, where he served as an assistant speed and strength and conditioning coach.

During his playing career at Boise State, Marks twice led the Broncos in rushing. He accumulated 1,773 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over his final two seasons as a starter, and helped lead the Broncos to four bowl games. He was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection and was the team's offensive most valuable player in 2005.

He later played one season with the Boise Burn of the Arena Football League.

Lee and his wife Kim have a son, Liam, and a daughter Logan.